With the additional year of eligibility, things are going to get interesting trying to figure out how long people will play. On each person that can take an extra year, which is everyone except the 2021 arrivals, the light blue box is for the extra year. The red box is for a redshirt year. Green is a used year of eligibility. It remains to be seen how many players will take advantage of the extra year. Six years is a long time to be in college if you're not going for a Masters.
On the offensive side of the ball, Baylor got, at best, a mulligan last year. Whether it was COVID, a mismatch between Larry Fedora and the offensive talent, or Dave Aranda’s inexperience on the offensive side of the ball, the offense was ineffective. With Charlie Brewer not performing as he had in the past and a losing record assured, they could have used the opportunity to get some meaningful snaps for Gerry Bohanon and Jacob Zeno.
Brewer transferred to Utah, and this puts Baylor in the position of having no quarterbacks with starting experience heading into 2021. We might speculate on who the starting quarterback will be for 2021, but the coaching staff has not given us any clues as to their thinking on the subject.
The good thing is they have several options at quarterback, and with the transfer portal heating up, a lot of teams can’t say that. QB is a position where guys who don’t immediately start see the handwriting on the wall, and jump teams quickly.
The Green and Gold game didn’t add any clarity. If anything, it made things more confusing.
Gerry Bohanon
Junior, 6’3”, 221 lbs
As a junior, Bohanon is the old man of the team, but he hasn’t gotten much playing time. He played less in 2020 than he did in his previous two years, only appearing in two games and completing one pass for seven yards.
To see Bohanon in a real game, you have to go back to 2019, when he played in ten games and generated 459 yards of offense. His best attribute is his running capability, and with the offense searching for an identity, that shouldn’t be underestimated. In 2019, he had 272 yards rushing and 187 passing. Coming out of Earle, Arkansas, Bohanon has always been considered a dual threat quarterback, rather than a straight passer.
If he ends up starting, look for Baylor to change their offense to include more planned quarterback runs.
Brandon Bass
Junior, 5’10”, 195 lbs
Walk on. He won’t see the field. He could start at a smaller college.
Jacob Zeno
Sophomore, 6’1”, 207 lbs
Like Bohanon, Zeno didn’t see much playing time last year, only getting in during the last game against Oklahoma. In terms of pedigree, he’s the best in the quarterback room. Out of John Jay High School, he played against a much higher level of talent than Bohanon did in Arkansas. He's also the only four star on the QB roster.
Once you get past Bohanon and Zeno, you’re dealing entirely with conjecture and high school performance in terms of predicting future performance.
Blake Shapen
Redshirt Freshman, 6’0” 192 lbs
Shapen redshirted in 2020. He also plays on the Baylor Baseball team. In terms of measurables, he’s the smallest scholarship QB. He went to Evangel Christian Academy in Louisiana and had a 6-5 record his senior year,
He’s serious about competing for the starting job, taking a leave of absence from the baseball team to play Spring ball. That’s a serious “shove your chips into the middle of the table” move. He’s declared he’d rather practice in football than play actual games in baseball.
Kyron Drones
Freshman, 6’2”, 222 lbs
It’s hard to imagine Drones competing for the starting slot this year unless Zeno, Bohanon and Shapen have problems, but he could be the quarterback of the future. He’s won a high school championship at the 6A level, and is a true dual threat. Drones looks bigger than his listed height and weight, which is unusual, as teams often cheat the size up.
Summary
Spin the wheel. The coaching staff wasn't kidding when they said they hadn't decided. Zeno might have been ahead in 2019, but going off the practices and the Green and Gold game, it's a lot closer, now, and Bohanon might have the edge. Shapen can't be ignored, either. All of them need some seasoning, but Bohanon seemed closest to ready. It's hard to get past Zeno throwing two interceptions on his first two possessions. In one way, the coaching staff would like to be able to name a starter and get him some snaps. When the competition is this tight, though, they don't want to pull the trigger early.
Kevin's stated that he believes there will be multiple quarterbacks playing this fall. Just going off the spring game, Bohanon not only had the best game, but seemed the most enthusiastic and looked like he was having the most fun.
None of these QBs are bumping up against an eligibility limit. With the NCAA giving players an extra year of eligibility, Bohanon still has a potential three years, Zeno four, and Shapen and Drones, five.
On the offensive side of the ball, Baylor got, at best, a mulligan last year. Whether it was COVID, a mismatch between Larry Fedora and the offensive talent, or Dave Aranda’s inexperience on the offensive side of the ball, the offense was ineffective. With Charlie Brewer not performing as he had in the past and a losing record assured, they could have used the opportunity to get some meaningful snaps for Gerry Bohanon and Jacob Zeno.
Brewer transferred to Utah, and this puts Baylor in the position of having no quarterbacks with starting experience heading into 2021. We might speculate on who the starting quarterback will be for 2021, but the coaching staff has not given us any clues as to their thinking on the subject.
The good thing is they have several options at quarterback, and with the transfer portal heating up, a lot of teams can’t say that. QB is a position where guys who don’t immediately start see the handwriting on the wall, and jump teams quickly.
The Green and Gold game didn’t add any clarity. If anything, it made things more confusing.
Gerry Bohanon
Junior, 6’3”, 221 lbs
As a junior, Bohanon is the old man of the team, but he hasn’t gotten much playing time. He played less in 2020 than he did in his previous two years, only appearing in two games and completing one pass for seven yards.
To see Bohanon in a real game, you have to go back to 2019, when he played in ten games and generated 459 yards of offense. His best attribute is his running capability, and with the offense searching for an identity, that shouldn’t be underestimated. In 2019, he had 272 yards rushing and 187 passing. Coming out of Earle, Arkansas, Bohanon has always been considered a dual threat quarterback, rather than a straight passer.
If he ends up starting, look for Baylor to change their offense to include more planned quarterback runs.
Brandon Bass
Junior, 5’10”, 195 lbs
Walk on. He won’t see the field. He could start at a smaller college.
Jacob Zeno
Sophomore, 6’1”, 207 lbs
Like Bohanon, Zeno didn’t see much playing time last year, only getting in during the last game against Oklahoma. In terms of pedigree, he’s the best in the quarterback room. Out of John Jay High School, he played against a much higher level of talent than Bohanon did in Arkansas. He's also the only four star on the QB roster.
Once you get past Bohanon and Zeno, you’re dealing entirely with conjecture and high school performance in terms of predicting future performance.
Blake Shapen
Redshirt Freshman, 6’0” 192 lbs
Shapen redshirted in 2020. He also plays on the Baylor Baseball team. In terms of measurables, he’s the smallest scholarship QB. He went to Evangel Christian Academy in Louisiana and had a 6-5 record his senior year,
He’s serious about competing for the starting job, taking a leave of absence from the baseball team to play Spring ball. That’s a serious “shove your chips into the middle of the table” move. He’s declared he’d rather practice in football than play actual games in baseball.
Kyron Drones
Freshman, 6’2”, 222 lbs
It’s hard to imagine Drones competing for the starting slot this year unless Zeno, Bohanon and Shapen have problems, but he could be the quarterback of the future. He’s won a high school championship at the 6A level, and is a true dual threat. Drones looks bigger than his listed height and weight, which is unusual, as teams often cheat the size up.
Summary
Spin the wheel. The coaching staff wasn't kidding when they said they hadn't decided. Zeno might have been ahead in 2019, but going off the practices and the Green and Gold game, it's a lot closer, now, and Bohanon might have the edge. Shapen can't be ignored, either. All of them need some seasoning, but Bohanon seemed closest to ready. It's hard to get past Zeno throwing two interceptions on his first two possessions. In one way, the coaching staff would like to be able to name a starter and get him some snaps. When the competition is this tight, though, they don't want to pull the trigger early.
Kevin's stated that he believes there will be multiple quarterbacks playing this fall. Just going off the spring game, Bohanon not only had the best game, but seemed the most enthusiastic and looked like he was having the most fun.
None of these QBs are bumping up against an eligibility limit. With the NCAA giving players an extra year of eligibility, Bohanon still has a potential three years, Zeno four, and Shapen and Drones, five.
